Inn at Herr Ridge

Charming Country Inn with Remarkable History

The Inn at Herr Ridge in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, has played an improbable variety of roles in one quiet life. Built in 1815 as a tavern and public house, the property is said to have been a hideout of infamous robber David Lewis. Though it was thought to have housed a counterfeiting ring in the basement, the owner later put the property to good use as a stop on the Underground Railroad. When the Battle of Gettysburg broke out in July 1863, the house was converted into a wartime hospital, as it was one of the closest buildings to the fighting. In the following decades, the building passed through several hands before current innkeeper Steven Wolf took ownership in 1977 and restored it to a bed and breakfast.

The inn occupies a rural patch of land between the battlefields of Gettysburg National Military Park and Caledonia State Park. Each of the 16 guest rooms reflects the country setting. Flowing white gauze drapes the queen-size canopy in room one, with leafy vines hanging from the canopy rails. There’s a hunting-lodge theme in room nine, which boasts hickory-wood furnishings, a fireplace, and a two-person jacuzzi tub.

The inn boasts two onsite restaurants. Sharpshooters Grille is a lodge-style sports bar with microbrews, wings, and a raw-bar menu. At the more upscale Herr Tavern restaurant, chefs source produce and meats from local farms to craft meals such as braised pork belly and cornish game hen stuffed with sausage.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: Small Town Steeped in Civil War History

The site of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle, Gettysburg is populated with memorials and museums to the great battle, including Gettysburg National Military Park, the main battlefield and the site of Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address. Throughout the year, Civil War experts lead tours of the battlefields by foot, segway, or bus. Visit the house where General Robert E. Lee drew up his plans for the battle, or head to the David Wills House, where President Lincoln stayed as he wrote the Gettysburg Address.